Is care after miscarriage inconsistent in the UK?
Care after miscarriages is “not consistent enough” according to a new report, Death Before Birth, compiled by researchers from the Universities of Birmingham and Bristol.
The report analysed the extent to which Human Tissue Authority guidance had been incorporated into hospital policies for the disposal of pregnancy remains in hospitals in England.
The guidelines state that women should be aware that there are options for disposal of remains and given verbal or written information about these options.
However, it is not currently clear whether this takes place in NHS England, according to the report.
The study also showed that while care was improving in many hospitals, it was inconsistent — leaving some women feeling confused and distressed at a vulnerable time.
The publication of the report coincided with Baby Loss Awareness Week, a week in which bereaved parents unite with each other across the world to commemorate their babies’ lives.
According to figures by Office for National Statistics, the stillbirth rate in the UK in 2016 was 4.3 per 1,000 total births, down from 4.4 in 2015.
Although this small decline may not appear significant, it indicates that stillbirths are slowly but surely decreasing. However, the new report indicates that patient care after miscarriage is still a problem in the UK.
